Half Reactions for a displacement reaction?

Question

So, I need to write the redox reaction for a situation and balance it using half reactions. The situation is that a copper wire is put in a silver nitrate solution. I thought the equation would be Cu + 2AgNO3 yields Cu(NO3)2. I don't know how to separate the parts for the half reaction ( I mean, the Silver is just being removed from the Nitrate and replaced by the copper right?) I could be wrong. The problem said that Silver foam formed on the Copper, which is why I thought Silver was being removed from the solution. It also said the silver would flake off.

Update:

lol yields Cu(NO3)2 + 2AG is what I thought.

Steve O · Accepted Answer

redox reactions split into half reactions,
are split into
"red" ,aka "reduction" some material has its charge reduced to a lower value
&
"ox" , aka  oxidation , some material's charge goes up to a higher value


reduction: Ag+1   & 1 electron taken--> Ag^o
oxidation: Cu^0 -->  Cu+2  & 2 electrons lost

to balance the elctrons lost & taken:
reduction: 2Ag+1   & 2 e-    --> 2Ag^o
oxidation: Cu^0 -->  Cu+2  & 2 e-

in a single displacement, there is a role reversal...
single displacement starts with a single element & a single compound ...
& produces a new single element & new single compound

in order to do this, 
electrons are taken & somebody's charge goes down
&
electrons are lost & somebody's charge goes up
Zn  &  H2SO4   -->   ZnSO4   +   H2 
2KBr   &   Cl2   -->   2KCI  +    Br2

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Half Reactions for a displacement reaction?

1 Answer